How to Update Your Passport Photo: Forms, Fees, and Requirements

To update the photo on your U.S. passport, you have to apply for a new passport — there is no way to swap the photo on the one you already hold. Depending on your situation, that means renewing online, mailing Form DS-82 with a $130 fee, or applying in person on Form DS-11 for $165. Your new photo has to be taken within the last six months and meet the State Department’s technical standards.¹

When a Photo Change Actually Requires a New Passport

The State Department only expects you to replace your passport when your appearance has changed enough that you’re no longer recognizable from the photo in it. Normal aging, a new haircut, growing a beard, or coloring your hair doesn’t count. The threshold is higher than most people assume: your facial structure or proportions have to have genuinely shifted. Situations that qualify include:

Significant facial surgery, or permanent scarring from an accident, burn, or injury.
Major weight gain or loss that visibly changes your facial structure.
Changes to appearance from gender transition.
Adding or removing facial tattoos or piercings that noticeably alter how you look.

If any of these describe you, apply for a new passport regardless of when your current one expires. Waiting until your normal renewal window and traveling in the meantime with a photo that doesn’t match your face creates real problems at the border, covered below.

Children’s passports work differently. They are valid for only five years, and every new application must be filed in person on Form DS-11 rather than renewed.²³ If a child’s appearance has changed dramatically before their passport expires, don’t wait — file a new application before the next trip.

Which Application Route You’ll Use

Online Renewal

The State Department now lets many adults renew online and upload a digital photo directly, skipping the trip to the post office. You’re eligible if all of the following are true:⁴

You are 25 or older.
Your current 10-year passport is expiring within one year or expired less than five years ago.
You are not changing your name, sex marker, or other personal information.
You are not traveling internationally for at least six weeks from the date you submit.
Your passport is undamaged and hasn’t been reported lost or stolen.
You are located in a U.S. state or territory when you submit.

The age-25 cutoff and six-week travel buffer are the two limits that catch most people. Online renewal only offers routine processing; there’s no expedited option through the website.

Mail Renewal on Form DS-82

If you don’t qualify for online renewal, most adults can still renew by mail. Form DS-82 is available to you if:⁵

You were at least 16 when your most recent passport was issued.
Your passport was issued less than 15 years ago.
Your passport is not damaged and hasn’t been reported lost or stolen.

Fill out the form completely, including your Social Security number and current passport details, then mail it with your current passport, your new photo, and a check or money order for $130 payable to the U.S. Department of State.⁶ Use a traceable mailing method. Your old passport comes back separately, with a hole punch through it marking it cancelled. If your name has changed since your last passport, include legal documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order, and make sure the name on your application matches those documents.

In-Person Application on Form DS-11

Some situations require you to apply in person at a passport acceptance facility using Form DS-11:⁷

Your previous passport was issued before you turned 16.
Your passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
Your passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
You are applying for a first-time passport.

Acceptance facilities include many post offices, county clerk offices, and some libraries. The total cost is $165: a $130 application fee plus a $35 execution fee paid at the facility.⁶ Don’t sign the form before you arrive; the agent has to witness your signature and administer an oath.

Photo Requirements

A lot of applications stall because the photo doesn’t meet the standards. Whether printed or uploaded, your image must have been taken within the last six months and must show you as you currently look.¹

For a printed photo:

Exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), with your head measuring 1 inch to 1⅜ inches from chin to top.
Printed on matte or glossy photo-quality paper.
Plain white or off-white background, with no shadows, texture, or lines.
Full color, not black and white.
Neutral facial expression, both eyes open, mouth closed, head facing the camera without tilt.
Even lighting with no shadows across your face.

For an online upload, the file must be a JPG, PNG, HEIC, or HEIF between 54 kilobytes and 10 megabytes. All of the appearance rules still apply.⁸

Glasses of any kind are not allowed. The only exception is a rare medical situation, such as immediately after eye surgery, and you’ll need a signed statement from your doctor.⁹ Hats and head coverings are also prohibited unless you wear them daily for religious or medical reasons; you’ll need a signed statement to that effect, your full face must remain visible, and the covering can’t hide your hairline or cast shadows. Uniforms and camouflage clothing are off-limits. So are filters and any digital editing: the State Department specifically prohibits photos altered with editing software or AI tools.

Fees and Processing Times for 2026

Budget for the following:⁶

Adult passport book renewal on DS-82: $130.
New adult passport book on DS-11: $130 application fee plus $35 execution fee, for $165.
Expedited processing: $60 added to the application fee.
1-to-3-day delivery of your issued passport within the U.S.: $22.05.

Routine processing currently takes four to six weeks. Expedited service takes two to three weeks.¹⁰ These clocks start when the State Department receives your application, not when you drop it in the mail, so add roughly a week in each direction for transit and build in a buffer. You can check status online about two to three weeks after submitting. Your new passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.²

If Your Trip Is Sooner Than Processing Allows

If you need to travel internationally within the next 14 days or need a foreign visa within 28 days, you can make an appointment at a regional passport agency for faster service. These agencies see customers by appointment only and require proof of upcoming travel, such as a flight itinerary or a letter from a foreign embassy confirming a visa appointment.¹¹

Life-or-death emergencies involving an immediate family member (a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandparent) that require travel within 72 hours qualify for emergency processing. You’ll need documentation of the emergency, such as a death certificate or hospital statement, along with proof of imminent travel and a completed application with your new photo.

Why an Outdated Photo Matters at the Border

Traveling with a passport photo that no longer matches your face has a specific consequence. U.S. Customs and Border Protection uses facial recognition to compare your live appearance against the photo in your passport. When the system flags a mismatch for a traveler 14 or older, CBP policy requires a referral to secondary inspection for additional identity verification, and officers cannot override the mismatch.¹² Secondary inspection means waiting in a separate area for additional questioning and document checks, which can add anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to your arrival, and it happens every time you enter the country while the mismatch persists. For children 13 and under, officers have discretion to either override the mismatch or send the child to secondary inspection. If your appearance has changed enough to trigger this, replacing your passport before the trip is cheaper than the delay.

1
U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Photos
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 22 U.S. Code 217a – Validity of Passport; Limitation of Time
3
USAGov. Get a Passport for a Minor Under 18
4
U.S. Department of State. Renew Your Passport Online
5
U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
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U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees
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U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport
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U.S. Department of State. Uploading a Digital Photo
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U.S. Department of State. No Eyeglasses Policy for Visa and Passport Photographs
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U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports
11
U.S. Department of State. Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency
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Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. CBP Complied with Facial Recognition Policies to Identify International Travelers at Airports